Integrating a communication terminal as the preferred device in a static communication system configuration

ABSTRACT

A computer-implemented method is disclosed for integrating at least one first communication terminal assigned to a user as a preferred device in a static configuration of a communication system and/or for dynamically switching from a first communication terminal used as a preferred device to a second communication terminal as a preferred device for providing a one-number service using the preferred device, to which a one-number service number is assigned, wherein at least two communication terminals are statically assigned to the user and a preferred device is also dynamically assigned to the user through a virtual device. Also disclosed is communication system designed for this purpose.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention concerns a method for integrating a communicationterminal as the preferred device in a static configuration, a computerprogram product for implementing the method, a machine-readable datacarrier with the computer program product stored on it, and acorresponding communication system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following terms are briefly defined here for use in the followingdescription:

A telecommunication platform (also called a TC platform) is a switchingcenter or telecommunications installation, for example (also called aPBX or “Private Branch Exchange”). Such TC platforms offer mostlySIP-based VoIP/Video-over-IP technologies. A telephone terminal is, forexample, a telephone, smartphone, computer used to establish or operatea telephone connection (“call”) or a data connection, oranother—possibly virtual—type of terminal.

A cloud communication server (CCS) is, for example, a SaaS Cloudplatform for collaborative cross-team work. It allows teams to receivewhat they need for effective communication in a single client (alsocalled a CCS client).

A CCS client is, for example, an application software (app) thatcombines voice, video, screen sharing, messaging, chat, file sharing,etc., making collaborative work easy and trouble-free. Such a CCS clienton a cloud communication server is based primarily on WebRTC technologyand can be installed on a (telephone) terminal, for example.

The following abbreviations are explained below:

API: Application Programming Interface

App: Application, Application software or environment, Software, Webapplication

ATC: Advanced Telephony Connector

CSTA: Computer Supported Telecommunications Applications (ECMA)

CTI: Computer Telephony Integration (e.g., CSTA, TAPI)

ECMA: Ecma International Standardization Board

ONS: One-Number Service (in an internal/external company network)

PBX: Telecommunication installation, Telecommunication platform, Switch

PD: Preferred (communication terminal) Device

SIP: Session Initiation Protocol

TAPI: Telephony Applications Interface (Microsoft)

UC: Unified Communication

WebRTC: Web Real-Time Communication

With One-Number Service, a user can be located anywhere. The user canalways be reached at the one telephone number that the user has given toother people. With One-Number Service (ONS) a UC application forwardsall of the user's calls to his preferred device. The user decides whichterminal (telephone) he wants to use for his communication (such as anoffice phone, mobile phone, phone in the internal/external companynetwork, private phone, conference room, phone in a public place, CCSclient).

Unified Communication (UC) involves the integration of communicationmedia such as voice, video, screen sharing, messaging, chat, and filesharing in a uniform application environment, making collaborative workeasy and trouble-free.

Unified Communications (UC) solutions are distinguished in that a UCuser (hereinafter also designated as a user) can be reached via variouscommunication media (generally called devices in this field). Dependingon the situation, he may want to establish whether and via which mediaor devices he wishes to be reached. A significant class of devicescomprises telephones (land-line and mobile). A UC user generally hasseveral such devices. From the point of view of the communicationsystem, some of these devices are switched in externally throughgateways and can be included in the communication system as virtualdevices.

The UC feature “One-Number Service” (also abbreviated as ONS) isespecially significant because it hides the UC user's exact location andthe actual device he is using from his communication partners. The issuetherefore arises of how the following can be achieved:

-   -   assigning UC users to the devices assigned to them,    -   dynamically changing the assignment of devices (for external        devices in particular),    -   activating/deactivating the active device(s), and    -   simultaneously hiding the complexity of these assignments from        the applications,    -   in order to keep the overall implementation expenditure low.

In the context of the present invention, the following practicalexamples (also called Use Cases) are cited:

The following devices, for which One-Number Service is to be provided,are assigned to a UC user:

-   -   system telephone, connected directly to the communication system    -   mobile telephone, externally switched through a gateway to the        communication system,    -   home office telephone, externally switched through a gateway to        the communication system.    -   CCS client, a client assigned via a cloud communication server        Depending upon the location or situation, the UC user may wish        to be called:    -   If he is in the office: on the system phone and the mobile phone        (because he is not always at his desk), but not on the home        office phone.    -   If he is in the home office: Only on the home office phone.    -   If he is traveling: Only on the mobile phone (office hours),        otherwise redirected to voice mail. In certain situations,        however, the mobile number should not be called as an external        device, but instead an alternative external phone number (e.g.,        a hotel).

The prior art offers solutions to this, but they do not meet all of therequirements listed above and are very complex to execute:

Utility model DE 20 2011 003 225 U1 and patent application WO2014/060008 A1 describe the possibility of managing a virtual terminalfor a participant or a group of participants. In this case, for example,the user of a telephone system has a mobile phone (with GSM and WLANconnections, if applicable). This mobile phone is currently not includedin the system-specific communication scenarios. The user, for example,cannot forward conversations on the mobile phone to other participantsin the communication system or accept conversations from anotherparticipant in the communication system. For this case, DE 20 2011 003225 U1 and WO 2014/060008 A1 offer a remedy fully integrated into thecommunication system, for which no additional hardware is needed. Callsto and from the mobile phone are fully associated through an internal(virtual) participant in the communication system.

The procedure implemented by Unify to provide the One-Number Serviceusing a UC application is based primarily on a definition described inECMA-269, in which the user's device consists of a logical and aphysical component. The logical component is the One-Number Servicenumber and the physical component is the preferred device. In mostcases, the One-Number Service number is the same as the user's deskphone. The user uses the preferred device to make calls under hisOne-Number Service number such that the connection number of thepreferred device remains hidden from the conversation partner. Instead,the conversation partner always sees a connection to the One-NumberService number.

However, the One-Number Service according to DE 20 2011 003 225 U1 andWO 2014/060008 A1 is complex and expensive to implement. This alsoinvolves, in particular, the expense to the client-side applicationsoftware, because any changes in assignments of active (preferred)devices must be processed actively by each client software. The approachpresented here should significantly reduce this complexity. Connectionof an external device in the communication system and of One-NumberService should be dynamic, but transparent to the client-sideapplication software. If the assigned phone number is temporarilychanged (e.g., hotel scenario), this has no effect on the applicationsoftware and in particular no effect on the control or monitoring of thecorresponding virtual devices.

In addition, the concept according to DE 20 2011 003 225 U1 and WO2014/060008 A1 has limitations with respect to flexibility: This knownversion does not allow multiple terminals—as a subset of all devicesassigned to the user—to be used simultaneously as preferred devices.

WO 2007/000447 A1 discloses a system for signaling switching statusesbetween a team module MULAP in a communication unit, to which multipleterminals E1 . . . En for a participant T are assigned, and a ComAsscommunication module that controls switching of the team module MULAP,wherein the switching statuses of the terminals E1 . . . E3 for theparticipant T are captured in the team module MULAP. The system isdistinguished in that, in the team module MULAP and in the communicationmodule ComAss, a logical terminal LE is assigned to the terminals E1 . .. En of a participant T, in that the switching status v of theparticipant T is determined from the captured switching statuses of theterminals E1 . . . E3 and entered into the logical terminal LE of theteam module MULAP, and in that the switching status v of the participantT entered into the logical terminal LE is signaled to the communicationmodule ComAss.

Under WO 2007/000447 A1, the team configuration of a participant T isdeveloped using that participant's statically configured terminals E1,E2, E3 through two static CTI layers, as shown in FIG. 3.

CTI layer 2 shows the static link between the participant T and therespective linked terminal E1, E2, or E3. This is used today withinOSBiz by the following applications:

-   -   Middleware components: CSTA Service Provider—CSP    -   Direct Station Select Server (app for cross-node LED signaling        of participant statuses)—DSS    -   Embedded UC-Server—LAS

CTI layer 1 projects or condenses, for high-level applications, thestatus of the used terminal E1, E2 or E3 to the status of the staticparticipant T. This allows the terminal with varying use to be selectedfrom a static configuration. The participant T is therefore, in amathematical sense, a function of the used terminal E1, E2, or E3.T=f(E1,E2,E3)—finite listThis is used today within OSBiz by the following applications:UC Server—“UC Suite”

This process assumes a static assignment of the participant T to hisused terminals E1, E2, or E3 (because, for example, the terminal E3 canbe used in multiple teams, an E3 change in runtime would require thatall affected monitor points be updated in all applications, which isvery involved and complex).

With One-Number Service (ONS), a participant T dynamically selects hisdesk phone E1 or his Circuit Client E2 (CCS client) or any preferreddevice OND 1, OND 2. In Circuit, this involves the cloud communicationserver from the company Unify. The the participant T uses thedynamically selected terminal to make calls under his One-Number Servicenumber such that the connection number of the respective preferreddevice remains hidden from the conversation partner. Instead, theconversation partner always sees a connection to the One-Number Servicenumber. This CSTA model according to One-Number Service is shown in FIG.4. The CTI layer used for this adjusts itself to the respective selectedpreferred device and dynamically displays the link between theparticipant T and the respective terminal E1, E2, OND 1, or OND 2. Theparticipant T is therefore, in a mathematical sense, a function of theused preferred device.T=f(Preferred Device)—infinite listThis is used today, for example, by many applications.

This process assumes a dynamic assignment of the participant T to hisused terminals or preferred devices E1, E2, OND 1, or OND 2. Theapplications must follow the dynamic change.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The goal of this invention is to provide a simplified method forintegrating a communication terminal as the preferred device in a staticconfiguration, a corresponding computer program (product) forimplementing the method, a machine-readable data carrier with thecomputer program product stored on it, and a corresponding communicationsystem.

This objective is achieved with a method for integrating a communicationterminal as the preferred device in a static configuration as in claim1, a computer program product for implementing the method amachine-readable data carrier with a computer program product stored onit, and a corresponding communication system.

Additional advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subjectmatter of the dependent claims.

This invention allows the physical and virtual devices assigned to theUC user to be bundled in an advantageous group configuration(Group/MULAP), wherein each device can be switched individually betweenactive and inactive, so that multiple preferred devices can be used atthe same time (as a subset of all devices), if needed.

Overview of the Invention from a UC Application Point of View:

In unified communication solutions, the role of the UC user is generallydissociated from individual communication terminals. This makes itpossible to use a variety of communication media (e-mail, messaging,telephone) and to use multiple devices of the same type (e.g., multipletelephones) flexibly, if needed. It hides the multiple used devices fromthe communication partner (hence the name One-Number Service).

With this invention, the telephone number of a group assigned personallyto the user that has certain characteristics (e.g., per the prior art:Multiple Line Appearance=MULAP) serves as the telephone number for theOne-Number Service. The group/MULAP can contain multiple physical andvirtual devices. Dynamic changes to telephone numbers assigned tovirtual devices are used to flexibly link alternative (includingexternal) devices such that they are transparent to the client-side UCapplications, without the UC applications having to react (e.g., bychanging their device monitoring, etc.). Instead of being restricted toa single preferred device, the UC application can switch each individualdevice in the group/MULAP between active and inactive using a suitableinterface with the communication system, thereby creating subsets ofmultiple devices that are active as preferred devices at a particularpoint in time.

The selection of the preferred device(s) is preferably made from the UCapplication. If the user uses multiple UC clients (e.g., desktop andmobile), then any client can be used to change the preferred device(s)or the dynamic assignment of a virtual device to a telephone number(including external ones), without all clients having to reactdynamically, e.g., by changing their monitoring.

In an additional preferred embodiment of the invented method, thepreferred device is integrated and/or the preferred device isdynamically assigned by at least one first UC application, preferablywithout feedback, to the assigned configuration. This allows participantT to dynamically select his desk phone E1 or any preferred device OND 1,OND 2 and at the same time operate his high-level application withoutadditional synchronization and without feedback. The CTI layer 3 definedhere adjusts itself to the respective selected preferred device anddynamically indicates the link between the participant T and therespective preferred device E1, OND 1, or OND 2, while CTI layer 2displays the link between the static (virtual) participant E2 and therespective dynamically linked preferred device. The CTI layer 1 thencondenses, for high-level applications, the status of the used terminalE1, E2, OND 1, or OND 2 to the status of the static participant T,thereby allowing simultaneous operation of applications on the CTIlayers 1-3 without feedback.

In another preferred embodiment of the invented method, the preferreddevice OND 1 is integrated and/or the preferred device OND 1, OND 2 isdynamically assigned, without feedback, to the application environmentas a whole, which includes at least one second application software.This offers the advantage that a static assignment of the participant Tto his used terminals E1 and E2 with simultaneous dynamic assignment ofa preferred device makes it possible to change the runtime of thepreferred device without updating all affected monitor points of allapplications on the CTI layers 1-3.

In an additional preferred embodiment of the invented method, thepreferred device OND 1 is integrated and/or the preferred device OND 1,OND 2 is dynamically assigned using Set and Get functions, in particularSet/Get forwarding, of an application software. This offers theadvantage that the UC application can switch the virtual device(s) inthe group/MULAP between active and inactive using Set and Get functions,in particular Set/Get forwarding, via a suitable interface with thecommunication system, thereby creating subsets of multiple devices thatare active as preferred devices OND 1 and/or OND 2 at a particular pointin time (see FIG. 14).

In another preferred embodiment of the invented method, the devices OND1, OND 2 are activated and deactivated using Set and Get functions, inparticular Set/GetAgentState, an application software, thereby creatingany subsets of the already assigned static configuration. This offersthe advantage that the UC application can switch one or more device(s)in the group/MULAP between active and inactive using Set and Getfunctions, in particular Set/GetAgentState, via a suitable interfacewith the communication system, thereby creating subsets of multipledevices that are active at a particular point in time (see FIG. 13).

In an additional preferred embodiment of the invented method, activatingor deactivating a preferred device OND 1, OND 2 causes the automaticdeactivation or activation of other assigned devices. This offers theadvantage that the UC application can switch one or more device(s) inthe group/MULAP between active and inactive using Set and Get functions,in particular Set/GetAgentState, via a suitable interface with thecommunication system, thereby automatically deactivating or activatingone or more other devices in the group/MULAP.

In an additional preferred embodiment of the invented method, apreferred device OND 1, OND 2 is dynamically linked and activated ordeactivated on a separate, preferably self-contained presentation level,which is configured in particular as a CTI layer corresponding to avirtual device. This offers the advantage that the preferred devices OND1 and/or OND 2 are selected and subsets of multiple devices are createdby means of activation or deactivation on a separate CTI layer 3 (seeFIG. 9A and FIG. 12) and are independent of the CTI layers 1 and 2,which are transparent to the application.

This invention also includes a computer program that implements theinvented method and a machine-readable data carrier suitable for storingthis computer program.

Additional advantages, features, and characteristics of the presentinvention are presented in the following description of advantageousembodiments with reference to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a first overview arrangement of a configuration according tothe invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram second overview arrangement of aconfiguration according to the invention,

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an overview arrangement of atelecommunication system according to WO 2007/000447 A1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an overview arrangement of atelecommunication system according to the One-Number Service.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an overview arrangement of atelecommunication system according to the invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an overview arrangement of atelecommunication system according to DE 20 2011 003 225 U1.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing another view of the inventedtelecommunication system,

FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C are examples of applications for this invention,

FIGS. 9A and 9B are tables that contain corresponding representationsfor UC-ONS applications or for CSTA applications.

FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C, 11A, 11B and 11C are additional examples ofapplications for this invention.

FIG. 12 is a table that contains corresponding representation for UC-ONSapplications.

FIG. 13 is a schematic representation of a group configuration with onegroup or MULAP per user for his internal devices, wherein the activedevices within the group/MULAP are selected by switching the group andMULAP members in and out.

FIG. 14 is a schematic representation of a group configuration with onegroup or MULAP per user for his internal devices and multiple virtualdevices representing external ONDs belonging to the user.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 5 shows a first embodiment of a telecommunication system 10 inwhich the invented method is being carried out as described below. Thetelecommunication system 10 comprises terminals E1, E2, OND 1, and OND2, as well as other terminals if applicable, assigned to a user T. Italso includes a control device 42 in a server, which executes the methodusing a schematically represented computer program 92 (stored on aCD-ROM 90 as the example of a data carrier).

This method links the dynamic approach to the static approach. This stepnow allows participant T to advantageously select his dynamic desk phoneE1 or any preferred device OND 1, OND 2 and at the same time operate hishigh-level application without additional synchronization and withoutfeedback. This is represented in the CSTA model according to theinvention as shown in FIG. 5.

The CTI layer 3 adjusts itself to the respective selected preferreddevice and dynamically displays the link between the participant T andthe respective preferred device E1, E1, OND 1, or OND 2.

CTI layer 2 shows the link between the static (virtual) participant E2and the respective dynamically linked preferred device. E2 is therefore,in a mathematical sense, a function of the preferred device.E2=f(Preferred Device)—infinite list

CTI layer 1 projects or condenses, for high-level applications, thestatus of the used terminal E1, E2, OND 1, or OND 2 to the status of thestatic participant T. The participant T is therefore, in a mathematicalsense, a function with a finite list while at the same time havinginfinite content (preferred device).T=f(E1,E2=f(Preferred Device))—finite list “with infinite content”

The use of this method allows simultaneous operation of applications onthe CTI layers 1-3 without feedback.

This method makes it possible to use a static assignment of theparticipant T to his used terminals E1 and E2 with simultaneous dynamicassignment of a preferred device. This approach makes it possible tochange the runtime without having to update all affected monitoringpoints of all applications. In other words, for example, through anadditional CTI layer, this method offers to prepare a previously staticapproach for a dynamic operational purpose.

In addition, projecting or condensing the terminals individuallyassigned to the participant T is not desirable as it is for VSL (classichigh-level UC application); instead, the LAS (UC application with newpreferred device approach) prefers direct access to the individualterminals.

The following FIGS. 1 and 2 should illustrate this model: FIG. 1 showsthe structure of a UC user in a group of devices (group/MULAP) for thepurpose of using the One-Number Service. Individual or multiple devicesin the group/MULAP are activated or deactivated for the purpose ofdynamically specifying one or more preferred devices using CSTA with theSet/AgentState command adapted for this application. If all devices inthe group/MULAP are switched to active, this is synonymous with “nopreferred device—all devices in the group are active.” FIG. 2 shows theimplementation of preferred device(s) with increased flexibility bycreating subsets of active devices.

This method is represented from a CSTA point of view as follows: Thetechnical interface for controlling the communication system, inparticular

-   -   for implementing the simplified One-Number Service,    -   for dynamic assignment of external telephone numbers to a        virtual device, and    -   for dynamic activation or deactivation of individual devices in        a group/MULAP, is preferably established through CSTA as is        common for communication systems.

Fulfilling the CSTA requirements for basic One-Number Service isextremely complex and very expensive to implement, for both thecommunications server and the client-side application software. As itprogresses, this implementation must involve a complex test and acorrespondingly complex service. In addition, its retro-compatibilitywith already existing applications, in particular already existingOne-Number Services (e.g., CallMe and Mobility Entry in OSBiz) must beverified.

This present method offers a significantly simplified alternative to thevery complex and therefore expensive solution of the previously knownOne-Number Service, using known configurations according to DE 20 2011003 225 U1 and WO 2014/060008 A1.

This method is especially suitable for communication systems thatcurrently have limited or no One-Number Service but do support theconcept of group/MULAP groups.

As an example, the following uses OpenScape Business (OSBiz) with itscorresponding UC applications. It shows how One-Number Service can beimplemented easily, with expanded flexibility, and how the requiredtesting and service expense can be significantly reduced. Here thechanging preferred device is associated according to a One-NumberService for the applications by the virtual participant known from DE202011 003 225 U1 and WO 2014/060008 A1.

In addition, this method allows for expanded flexibility, so that theuser can use not only one exact device from the group of devicesassigned to him, but also multiple preferred devices at the same time asneeded.

According to DE 20 2011 003 225 U1, the external participant isrepresented within Call Processing initially by a Trunk Device. First,the authentication required for system integration takes place, and onlyauthorized mobile telephones have this access. When authentication iscompleted, all additional actions of the external participant are linked(associated) with a participant's device within Call Processing. Thisallows for all types of all external participants (including mobileparticipants) to be mapped to one internal participant and managedaccordingly.

The participating device used is a so-called virtual device, i.e., adevice with no physical connection and therefore without additionalhardware. The connection to physical items, i.e., to the varioushardware types of mobile devices or communication terminals (GSM, WLAN,SIP Endpoint, SIP Provider, Legacy Trunk, and terminals, as well asWebRTC—see WO 2014/060008 A1) is established by means of association.The related signaling of features and sounds toward the trunk isdirected by Call Processing via the associated virtual participant tothe mobile device. Because the mobile participant is not reached via afixed trunk device in the system, this association with the virtualdevice is always made on the existing connection and must bereestablished each time.

With Unify, the preferred device is represented by the One-NumberService (ONS) used in the OpenScape Voice (OSV) communication platformwith the UC application using CSTA, typically as shown in FIG. 6.

This links the preferred device to the virtual device according to theinvention. All additional actions of the preferred device are alwaysassociated with the same virtual device within Call Processing. Usingthe CSTA service Call Forwarding (labeled as step (a)) according to theinvention (and expanded with additional features), the user now sets therespective preferred device temporarily and links it with the virtualdevice. Involved applications synchronize themselves with the respectivecurrent preferred device, using the CSTA service Call Forwarding. Therespective preferred device remains hidden from all other applications.Retro-compatibility is provided. In addition, not only external mobileparticipants, but also internal participants are linked in.

An expanded approach by means of group generation is possible, as shownin FIGS. 13 and 14. This approach involves:

-   -   Creation of one group or MULAP per user for his internal devices        and one or more virtual devices representing external ONDs        belonging to the user.    -   A subset of devices being selected from the group/MULAP, which        being preferred for incoming calls (=active).    -   The active (preferred) devices within the group/MULAP beings        elected by switching groups and MULAP participants in and out        with proprietary use of the CSTA Set Agent State service        (indicated as step (b)).        The first two Steps (a) and (b) allow a simplified individual        configuration of the preferred device with simultaneous        individual selection of the call targets.

Advantages of this expanded approach are:

-   -   Expanded flexibility: Not just one, but multiple preferred        devices can be designated.    -   The special case of “no preferred device” is easy to generate,        with all devices set as logged on or available.    -   For outgoing calls, regardless of the number of active devices,        a “controlling device” can be designated individually by        application instance.    -   Group-specific features of the OpenScape system can be used,        e.g., call forwarding rules within the group (similar to an        AutoPilot function in OpenScape UC/Circuit, for example).

Different examples of applications for this method are shown in FIGS.8-12. The lower-case letters used in the connections in FIGS. 8 and 10have the following meanings:

c: “connected” using switching,

a: “alerting” (ringing) using switching.

The circled designations “C1” and “C2” stand for “Call1” or “Call2.” Thedevices marked with a letter “V” are virtual devices, and the devicesmarked with a letter “N” are network devices.

The selections of CSTA services and parameters used are for exampleonly. The same effect can also be achieved using other CSTA parameters.

FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C show the preferred device setup (corresponding toStep a). A user 2 changes his preferred device to the desk phone D2, toan external device D5 (e.g., GSM), or to an internal device D6 (e.g.,conference room). User 1 calls User 2.

FIG. 9A shows a corresponding representation for UC-ONS applications,while FIG. 9B shows a corresponding representation for CSTAapplications. The representation for CSTA applications is thenpreferably via the desk phone device D2 or the virtual device V3.

FIGS. 10A, 10B and 10C show the preferred device selection(corresponding to Step b). User 1 calls User 2.

A User 2 has a group or MULAP with corresponding preferred devices.Signaling takes place as shown in FIGS. 10A, 10B and 10C, with thestatus before the call shown in FIG. 10A, the status while the call isbeing connected shown in FIG. 10B, and the status after successfulconnection of the call shown in FIG. 10C.

If the selection of the preferred device is changed from the desk phoneD2 to an external device D5 (e.g., GSM) and to an internal device D6(e.g., conference room), the signaling is simplified as shown in FIGS.11A, 11B and 11C. User 1 calls User 2 again.

FIG. 12 shows a corresponding representation for UC-ONS applications.The exclusive switching in or out means the same here. Therepresentation for CSTA applications is the same as in FIG. 9B.

Note that the same linking or assignment mechanisms apply to MULAP, GSMonly, and the dual-mode mobility configuration.

It should be understood that, with this invention, there is acorrelation between features described with respect to method steps andfeatures described with respect to corresponding equipment. In thisregard, described method features are to be considered as equipmentfeatures that are part of the invention—and vice versa—even when this isnot explicitly stated.

It should be noted that the features of the invention described byreferencing the presented embodiments, for example the type andconfiguration of individual components and terminals of thecommunication system, individual messages, signals, and parameters, canalso be present in other embodiments, unless stated otherwise orprohibited for technical reasons. Not all features of individualembodiments described in combination must necessarily always beimplemented in any one particular embodiment.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method forintegrating at least one first communication terminal assigned to a useras a preferred device in a static configuration of a telecommunicationsystem and/or for dynamically switching from a first communicationterminal used as a preferred device to a second communication terminalas a preferred device for providing a one-number service using thatpreferred device to which a one-number service number is assigned,comprising: statically assigning at least two communication terminals tothe user by a static assignment process comprising: statically assigninga third communication terminal to the user via a first ComputerTelephony Integration (CTI) layer for providing the one number service,and statically assigning a fourth communication terminal to the user viaa second CTI layer for providing the one number service; and dynamicallyassigning a first preferred device of a group of devices to the userthrough a virtual device for alerting the user of a call directed to theuser via the one number service by a dynamic assignment processcomprising: dynamically assigning the first communication terminal to avirtual device to associate the first communication terminal with theuser as the first preferred device for the one number service via athird CTI layer that is independent of the first CTI layer and isindependent of the second CTI layer so that the first communicationterminal is linked to the virtual device and assigned to the user forthe one number service without feedback and without updating of allaffected monitoring points for the one number service; and adjusting theassignment of the first preferred device from the first communicationterminal to the second communication terminal via the virtual device sothat the second communication terminal is associated with the one numberservice via the third CTI layer without feedback and without updating ofall affected monitoring points for the one number service.
 2. The methodof claim 1 wherein the first preferred device is integrated and thefirst preferred device is dynamically assigned by at least one firstunified communication (UC) application to an assigned configuration. 3.The method of claim 2 wherein the first preferred device is dynamicallyassigned without any feedback.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein thefirst preferred device is dynamically assigned, without feedback, to anapplication environment which includes at least one second applicationsoftware.
 5. The method as in claim 4 wherein the first preferred deviceis dynamically linked and activated or deactivated via the third CTIlayer.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first preferred device isintegrated and the first preferred device is dynamically assigned usingSet and Get functions of an application software.
 7. The method of claim6 wherein the first preferred device is dynamically assigned usingSet/Get forwarding.
 8. The method of claim 6 wherein the first preferreddevice is dynamically assigned using Set/GetAgent State.
 9. The methodof claim 6 wherein activating or deactivating the first preferred devicecauses automatic deactivation or activation of other assigned devices ofthe group of devices.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the dynamicallyassigning the first communication terminal to the virtual device via thethird CTI layer is performed so that the first communication terminal isdynamically assigned without device monitoring for the one numberservice being changed.
 11. The method of claim 10, comprising: alertingthe third communication terminal via the first CTI layer, the fourthcommunication terminal via the second CTI layer, and the secondcommunication terminal via the third CTI layer in response to a callbeing directed to the user via the one number service after theadjusting of the assignment of the first preferred device from the firstcommunication terminal to the second communication terminal via thevirtual device occurs.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjustingof the assignment of the preferred device from the first communicationterminal to the second communication terminal via the virtual devicecomprises: in response to determining that the first communicationterminal is inactive and that the second communication terminal isactive, dynamically removing the first communication terminal as thepreferred device for the one number service via the third CTI layer andassigning the second communication terminal that is active to thevirtual device as the preferred device for the one number service forthe user via the third CTI layer without device monitoring for the onenumber service being changed.
 13. A non-transitory computer readablemedium having a program defining a method that is executable by acommunication apparatus when the program is run by that communicationapparatus, for dynamically switching from a first communication terminalused as a preferred device to a second communication terminal as thepreferred device for providing a one-number service using that preferreddevice to which a one-number service number is assigned, the methodcomprising: statically assigning at least two communication terminals tothe user by: statically assigning a third communication terminal to theuser via a first Computer Telephony Integration (CTI) layer forproviding the one number service, statically assigning a fourthcommunication terminal to the user via a second CTI layer for providingthe one number service; and dynamically assigning a preferred device tothe user through a virtual device for alerting the user of a calldirected to the user via the one number service by: dynamicallyassigning the first communication terminal to a virtual device toassociate the first communication terminal with the user as thepreferred device for the one number service via a third CTI layer thatis independent of the first CTI layer and is independent of the secondCTI layer so that the first communication terminal is linked to thevirtual device and assigned to the user for the one number servicewithout feedback and without updating of all affected monitoring pointsfor the one number service; and adjusting the assignment of thepreferred device from the first communication terminal to the secondcommunication terminal via the virtual device so that the secondcommunication terminal is associated with the one number service via thethird CTI layer without feedback and without updating of all affectedmonitoring points for the one number service.
 14. A communication systemfor integrating at least one first communication terminal assigned to auser as a preferred device in a static configuration of thecommunication system and/or for dynamically switching from a firstcommunication terminal used as a preferred device to a secondcommunication terminal as a preferred device for providing a one-numberservice using the preferred device, to which a one-number service numberis assigned, comprising: a third communication terminal; a fourthcommunication terminal; a control device communicatively connectable tothe first communication terminal and the second communication terminal,the control device also communicatively connectable to the thirdcommunication terminal and the fourth communication terminal; thecontrol device configured to statically assign the third communicationterminal to a user via a first Computer Telephony Integration (CTI)layer to provide a one number service and statically assign the fourthcommunication terminal to the user via a second CTI layer to provide theone number service; the control device configured to dynamically assignthe first communication terminal to at least one virtual device toassociate the first communication terminal with the user for the onenumber service via a third CTI layer that is independent of the firstCTI layer and is independent of the second CTI layer so that the dynamicassignment of the first communication terminal occurs without feedbackand without updating all affected monitor points of all applications onthe first, second, and third CTI layers associated with the one numberservice; and the control device configured to adjust assignment of thepreferred device from the first communication terminal to the secondcommunication terminal via the at least one virtual device so that thesecond communication terminal is associated with the one number servicevia the third CTI layer without feedback and without updating of allaffected monitoring points for the one number service.
 15. Thecommunication system of claim 14, wherein dynamic assignment via thethird CTI layer provided by the control device is performed withoutdevice monitoring for the one number service having to be changed. 16.The communication system of claim 15, wherein the control device isconfigured so that a call directed to the user via the one numberservice is alerted at the first communication terminal, the secondcommunication terminal, the third communication terminal and the fourthcommunication terminal.
 17. The communication system of claim 16,wherein: the third communication terminal connected to the controldevice.
 18. The communication system of claim 15, wherein the controldevice is configured to dynamically remove the first communicationterminal as a preferred device for the one number service via the thirdCTI layer in response to determining that the first communicationterminal is inactive and assign the second communication terminal thatis active to the at least one virtual device as a preferred device viathe third CTI layer without device monitoring for the one number servicehaving to be changed.